What is Geriatrics?
Geriatrics is the branch of healthcare that focuses on our unique needs as we age.
Emphasis on 4M’s:
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What Matters Most
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Mobility
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Medication
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Mentation
Janie Earle, DNP
I first remember wanting to be a nurse when I was in second grade. My father will tell you I was either 3 or 4 years of age when I said I wanted to be a nurse. I first obtained a bachelor’s degree in Biology, then attended nursing school 20 years ago. I worked as a registered nurse for many years in a wide variety of areas, as I was in the ‘float pool’ for the hospital. I then transitioned to clinic care and at the same time obtained my bachelor’s degree in nursing.
I acquired a greater passion for providing care to the senior population through my clinic work as a nurse care manager. I helped patients manage their chronic diseases, improve their mental health, and be connected to community resources. I had the opportunity to serve on several senior committees for both the hospital and the community. Through these opportunities, dementia care became a focus of mine, and once I went back to school for a doctorate of nurse practitioner, it became my sub-specialty. Through specialized dementia care, I can perform complete assessments to help determine if a diagnosis of dementia is prudent. If dementia is diagnosed, I will then help plan for the future by providing education to patients, family members, and loved ones.
Being connected to community resources is a vital part of geriatric care. I will generously provide patients with knowledge and opportunities to connect with multiple community resources.
Why choose a Nurse Practitioner?
The aging years can bring unique challenges. Challenges that have never been faced before. Providing high-quality healthcare for older adults requires special knowledge and skills. A geriatric nurse practitioner can help bring to light those challenges, offer solutions and resources, and then plan ahead to enhance quality of life during those challenges.
Nursing brings a different yet nurturing focus into lives of patients. Nursing can be described as both an art and science; a hearth and a mind. At it’s heart, lies a fundamental respect for human dignity and an intuition for a patient’s needs.
-American Nursing Association